O'Reilly named finalist for Lady Byng Trophy

Ryan O'Reilly has been selected as a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is given annually to the player "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

O'Reilly joins Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon and Toronto's Auston Matthews as a finalist for this year's award.

"It's amazing to be nominated for the Lady Byng," O'Reilly told stlouisblues.com. "(There's some) great company there with MacKinnon and Matthews, incredible players. It's a special thing. For myself, I take a lot of pride to be able to impact the game and also be respected in it, stay out of the box and be respected that way. (I can) be one that's respected by refs and feel like whenever guys are freaking out, I can kind of be a calm voice there.

"To be recognized for that is an amazing thing."

O'Reilly has been a finalist for the Lady Byng in each of the last three seasons and won the award as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2014. O'Reilly led the Blues with 61 points (12 goals, 49 assists) in 71 games this season. He led the NHL with 880 face-off wins, ranked 10th in face-off winning percentage (56.6) and received just five minor penalties, marking the sixth time in his 11 NHL seasons he has totaled 10 or fewer penalty minutes.

Previous Lady Byng winners with the Blues include Phil Goyette (1969-70), Brett Hull (1989-90) and Pavol Demitra (1999-2000).

The 2020 winner will be selected by votes from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and will be revealed either during the Conference Finals or before the start of the Stanley Cup Final. The NHL Awards were originally scheduled for June 18 in Las Vegas but were postponed due to the paused season.